Gastroenterology

Infliximab reintroduction effective in some Crohn's disease patients

Stephen Padilla, Yesterday

Retreatment with infliximab (IFX) appears safe and effective in nearly a third of patients with Crohn’s disease (CD), independent of the reason for prior discontinuation, results of a study have shown.

Sleeve gastrectomy vs gastric bypass for weight loss: Which is safer?

Women, diabetics more likely to suffer from delayed gastric emptying after gastrectomy

Tristan Manalac, Yesterday

Among patients who undergo distal gastrectomy for gastric cancer, the risk of developing delayed gastric emptying (DGE) appears to be higher among women and those with diabetes, according to a recent study.

IBD biologics decision aid not superior to static education in improving patient outcomes

3 days ago

Patient outcomes are not significantly different between the use of biologics fact sheet and the ibdandme.org (IBD&me), a freely available, unbranded, interactive decision aid, a study has shown. High satisfaction is noted with both resources.

Transcutaneous electrical acustimulation effective in IBS with constipation

4 days ago

Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and constipation (IBS-C) can improve their symptoms by undergoing transcutaneous electrical acustimulation (TEA), suggests a study. TEA speeds up colon transit and reduces rectal sensation, which is potentially mediated by using the autonomic mechanisms.

Ozanimod aces in ulcerative colitis treatment

Coeliac disease bidirectionally linked to IBD

4 days ago

A two-way association exists between coeliac disease (CeD) diagnosis and inflammatory bowel disease, which demands attention in the initial assessment and follow-up of such conditions, according to a study. Regardless of temporal sequence, this co-occurrence indicates a shared aetiology.

Add-on, switch-to PEG-IFN therapy strategies improve serological response in CHB patients

4 days ago

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, who have virological response with long-term entecavir (ETV) treatment, appear to fare well with a strategy of adding or switching to peginterferon (PEG-IFN) therapy, as shown in a study.

Relationship between tumour response to systemic therapy and overall survival in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma

Dr Raghav Sundar, 09 Sep 2019

Overall survival (OS) is currently the primary criteria in assessing the efficacy of a cancer treatment. Dr Raghav Sundar, a consultant medical oncologist at the National University Hospital, Singapore, details the crucial role played by tumour response in evaluating treatment efficacy, with a focus on the multiple kinase inhibitor lenvatinib in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Tucatinib-trastuzumab combo induces durable tumour response in HER2+ mCRC

Elvira Manzano, 19 Sep 2022

Dual HER-2 inhibition with tucatinib and trastuzumab induces clinically meaningful and durable responses in patients with previously treated metastatic HER2-positive colorectal cancer (mCRC) in the phase II MOUNTAINEER trial, boosting hopes for this chemotherapy-free combination.

Any upside to frontline mFOLFOXIRI-panitumumab in mCRC?

Roshini Claire Anthony, 14 Sep 2022

In patients with unresectable RAS and BRAF wildtype metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), a modified FOLFOXIRI plus panitumumab (mFOLFOXIRI/PAN*) treatment strategy in the first-line setting did not improve objective response rate (ORR) compared with FOLFOX plus panitumumab (mFOLFOX6/PAN**), results of the phase III TRIPLETE study showed.

STRIDE regimen benefit in unresectable HCC consistent across baseline liver function

Roshini Claire Anthony, 11 Sep 2022

The overall survival (OS) benefit observed with the STRIDE regimen compared with sorafenib in patients with unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is consistent regardless of baseline liver function, according to exploratory analysis of data from the phase III HIMALAYA trial presented at ESMO GI 2022.

Second-line NIVO + IPI combo sustains response, OS benefit in aHCC

Elaine Soliven, 30 Aug 2022

The combination of nivolumab 1 mg/kg (NIVO1) and ipilimumab 3 mg/kg (IPI3) every 3 weeks followed by NIVO 240 mg every 2 weeks in the second-line setting continues to confer durable response and overall survival (OS) benefit in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (aHCC), according to 5-year data from the CheckMate 040* trial presented at ESMO GI 2022.

Durvalumab + gemcitabine-cisplatin confers benefit in biliary tract cancer

Durvalumab + gemcitabine-cisplatin benefit in biliary tract cancer consistent across tumour locations

Roshini Claire Anthony, 27 Aug 2022

The benefit of adding durvalumab to gemcitabine plus cisplatin chemotherapy in patients with advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC) was consistent regardless of primary tumour location, according to a subgroup analysis of the phase III TOPAZ-1 study presented at ESMO GI 2022.

First-line tislelizumab + chemo improves OS in advanced/metastatic ESCC

Elaine Soliven, 23 Aug 2022

First-line treatment with tislelizumab + chemotherapy significantly improves overall survival (OS) in patients with advanced or metastatic oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) compared with chemotherapy alone, according to an interim analysis of the RATIONALE-306* trial presented at ESMO GI 2022.

Is bulevirtide a potential answer for chronic hep D?

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20 Aug 2022

Bulevirtide at a dose of 2 mg or 10 mg daily induces biochemical and virological response in patients with chronic hepatitis D virus (HDV) infection, according to results of Study MYR301.